Chapter 24 Encouragement
Maddie's POV
As Mariko and I pulled up to a house that was very beautiful, the garden was huge and I liked that there were roses too. I love roses. The house was Victorian-styled. Mariko opened the car door for me and then he held his hand out for me. I placed my hand in his and I stepped out of the car. I decided to wear a black sundress and gold sandals. My hair was loose.
Mariko was wearing dark blue jeans and a white t-shirt with black sneakers. The weather was quite warm but it has been overcast ever since the storm last night. Mariko closed the door behind me and then he held my hand, leading me up the few steps, and then he gently knocked on the door. I was nervous because this was my first time meeting someone that is close to Mariko although he told me that she is Amber's mother in the car.
I took in a deep breath, "Are you okay?" he asked, and I looked at him. He stroked my hand with his thumb, trying to keep me calm. He was sincere.
"I'm nervous but okay," I replied.
"Everything will be okay," he said, and then the door opened, grabbing our attention.
"Mariko! I'm glad to see you," an older, pretty woman gushed as Mariko let go of my hand and the woman took him into his embrace. I could tell that she loved him.
She pulled away from him and then looked over at me with a smile. "I hope that Bella has behaved herself," Mariko stated.
"Who is this beautiful young woman?" she asked.
"This is Maddie and Maddie, this is Margaret," Mariko introduced us.
I smiled at Margaret, extending my hand. "It's nice to meet you," I said.
"I don't do handshakes unless I'm at a function, but I am a hugger," she took me into her embrace. But my stomach sunk because Mariko didn't introduce me as someone that is his girlfriend or anything like that. Perhaps it is too soon to call us that. She pulled away from me. "Let's go see Bella," she walked into the house and Mariko smiled at me, gesturing for me to enter the house, and I did, with a weak smile.
I stood in the lounge with Mariko, "Are you sure that you are okay?" he asked.
"I guess that I am," I said, without looking at him.
"If anything is bothering you, please let me know," I looked at him. He was concerned.
"Ash never introduced me as his girlfriend to people, you just did the same, but I get it.... it's too soon," he was taken aback by that. My whole mood changed.
"Maddie, I'm-"
"Daddy!" Bella ran from the hallway all the way to Mariko as he crouched and opened his arms wide for her to run into his embrace. He held her while her tiny arms were wrapped around his neck. His eyes were closed and it pulled at my heart at how much his love for her was so visible. I wish that I had that with my father if things were different. He stood up with her. She pulled away still holding onto him, and she placed a kiss against his cheek.
"I missed you," he smiled at her.
"I missed you too. Can we please go home?" she asked.
"In a few days we will be in a new home. I will get you then," he said.
"Okay," she replied.
"Do you remember Maddie?" he asked as she looked at me. She smiled.
"Yes, daddy," she said as she reached for me and he brought her closer to me. I took her from him. She was a bit heavy for me. She wrapped her tiny arms around me and also kissed me against my cheek. I smiled at the kind gesture of a three-year-old. She smiled at me, "Daddy likes you."
My smile grew wider, "I know," I whispered, and she giggled. She lay her head on my shoulder and I looked at Mariko. He was smiling.
"I can make you some tea or coffee," Margaret offered, "I sent Rosie home for the day. I hope you don't mind that."
"I don't mind, Rosie needs her off days too," Mariko replied to her. "I will have coffee. I will help you in the kitchen."
"I will have coffee too, please." I smiled at Margaret, part of me wanted to ignore Mariko.
"You can have a seat. I know that Bella wants to be around you when she gets like that," she smiled, and then they both went to the kitchen.
Bella pulled away and I sat down with her on the sofa. "I like you," she said. "Can you be my mommy?" she smiled.
I chuckled at how adorable she was as she now sat beside me. "I suppose that I can be," I shrugged.
Bella is creeping into my heart, she is adorable.
Mariko's POV
I know that I have screwed up with Maddie by not introducing her the way that she had wanted me too, but I am still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that I have her in my life. I didn't want to cause any unnecessary heartache and I didn't want her to misunderstand anything.
I was so lost in my thoughts as Margaret and I made coffee that I didn't hear anything that she had said, "Are you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, of course I am," I smiled at her.
"Mariko Donovan, there is something on your mind and I know that it has to do with that beautiful young woman inside. Please tell me that you both are not fighting," she stated.
I let out a breath, "I didn't introduce her as my girlfriend because we only started and it needed to sink in. I haven't told anyone about her though and she has a past where she was in a terrible relationship with a guy that would never introduce her the same way. I feel that I have screwed up," I leaned against the counter.
"Mariko, soon you will be bragging to everyone that she is yours. Never mind what anybody else thinks, let alone Amber. I can see that you adore her and so does she. The way that you look at each other is love. I never really saw that between you and Amber. I am all for love, and not fake crap. Amber is enjoying her life now and I believe you should too. If that is with Maddie, then so be it. I am here to support you too, not just as your mother-in-law, but as a mother." she smiled sincerely.
"Thank you, Margaret." I said as I took my mug of coffee as she made Maddie's.
"Anytime for you," she continued to smile. "You deserve happiness. I would also like to see you with another kid. I mean, Bella needs a sibling."
"No, no more kids for me. I am done," I said as I grabbed Maddie's mug of coffee.
"If that is what you want. Bella is bored, at least let her attend kindergarten so that she has friends. She has always been isolated and she needs to be around kids too." she shrugged.
"Sternpoint will be having a daycare soon and I plan to take her there. It will be more convenient when I am at work."
"Does Maddie want kids of her own?" she asked.
"Margaret, that is personal." I let out a sigh. I swear that Margaret acts like my own mother, but I love her too.
"Just asking because in the future that might change. If that changes, what would you do about that?" she asked and looked at me.
"I don't know, but I refuse to have more, so I will do whatever it takes for that not to happen," I smiled, and then I started to walk towards the kitchen door. I have to make sure that it doesn't happen. I am done with kids.
"What about Bradley?" I stopped in my tracks with both mugs of coffee in my hands. I turned slightly to look at Margaret.
"I haven't told him, it was too soon, but eventually I will. I don't think that he will like the fact that I am dating someone that is his age. He did try to ask her out, she turned him down," I replied.
"You are going to have a hard time with him, you know that." she became serious.
"I know that, therefore, I need some time to tell him. Now is not the right time for me. He is about to go into business with the wrong people and I want to prevent him from doing that. I have many things to focus on all at once," I said.
"I understand, but please don't allow him to catch on crap because he is still young. He cannot get in the wrong crowd, he is beginning to remind me of Amber, the rebel type. Make sure he doesn't go down that road," she replied.
"I will make sure that he doesn't."
"I like Maddie, and please take care of her," she smiled.
"I will do that with all of my heart and every breath," I returned her smile as I left the kitchen.
I found Maddie sitting with Bella on the sofa. Bella was tracing something in Maddie's hand. My heart warmed at the fact that they get along well and I do not need to worry about anything when it comes to them having a bond. This is a family that I have been wanting ever since things began to get bad between Amber and I. I never thought that I would have it again, but now I know that I will have it again.